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New Tech Competition Called ‘Code For Change’ Launched To Design Applications For the Public Good

August 13, 2012

In partnership with the largest organizations supporting technological development in the nonprofit sector, the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service at New York University will launch a new competition in September, challenging tech developers to design new applications to address some of the most pressing public issues facing New Yorkers.

The school and its partners—One Economy, Code for America, NPower and Blue Ridge Foundation—have begun evaluating major challenges from government agencies and nonprofits seeking to enter the “Code For Change” competition. Team formation begins on September 28, and prizes include $10,000 in cash to support application development, VC and mentor lunches and potential support from local foundations.

Code for Change will be a twist on the traditional 24- or 36-hour hackathon, because participating developers will spend two weeks working on their concepts, culminating in the judging at NYU Wagner on Friday, October 12.

Code for Change will look for tech applications that will lead to improvements with a broad public purpose, be they in education, emergency readiness, voting, social services, or other areas of public interest and public service.

Code for Change is made possible by generous support from Motorola Mobility Foundation and Liquidnet.

Anyone interested in entering the contest can create challenges, join teams, and view rules and other details at www.applicationsforgood.org, a platform for designers created by the global nonprofit One Economy.

ABOUT NYU Wagner:
Established in 1938, the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service educates the future leaders of change wherever work of public importance happens – in nonprofit organizations, government institutions, and private organizations serving the public sector. NYU Wagner prepares students to translate personal commitment into public leadership. NYU Wagner offers advanced programs leading to the professional degrees of Master of Public Administration in Public and Nonprofit Management, Master of Public Administration in Health Policy and Management, Master of Urban Planning, Executive Master of Public Administration, Executive Master of Public Administration: Concentration for Nurse Leaders, and Doctor of Philosophy. For more information, visit http://wagner.nyu.edu.

ABOUT One Economy’s Applications for Good:
One Economy is a global nonprofit that uses innovative approaches to deliver the power of technology and information to low-income people. More than 19 million people have used One Economy’s online tools and resources on its Public Internet Channel www.pic.tv to build better lives. In 2011 One Economy launched www.applicationsforgood.org, a platform for software developers, game designers, students and other innovators to collaborate on creating applications for social and economic development. To date Applications for Good has been involved in the creation and distribution of several apps for public purpose including http://beelocal.thebeehive.org, http://snapfresh.org and http://myfreetaxes.com.

ABOUT Code for America:
Code for America is one of the fastest growing technology nonprofits in the world. The organization helps government become more connected, lean, and participatory through new opportunities for public service that create relationships and networks to support lasting change. Most recently, it partnered with the City of San Francisco and Google to create a new civic incubator. Code for America’s Brigade project is an organizing enterprise for civic-minded developers, designers, data scientists, and leaders who will contribute their talents towards addressing everyday problems. Brigade’s virtual network and live events connect people, projects, and places.

ABOUT Npower:
NPower is a national nonprofit providing IT training and services to nonprofits and young adults. NPower aims to bring the IT community together to do social good and offers its services through 3 programs – The Community Corps, Technology Service Corps and a fee-for-service arm, IT Professional Services. The Community Corps, NPower’s newest initiative, provides an online matching service that connects IT professionals to nonprofits in need of IT assistance at no cost to the nonprofits.

ABOUT Blue Ridge Foundation:
Blue Ridge Foundation New York is New York City’s social innovation incubator. Since 2000, Blue Ridge has been helping to build and launch new ventures that enhance economic and social mobility in NYC and beyond. Now in its second decade, Blue Ridge’s incubation efforts are currently focused on solutions that use digital technology and data as core elements of their approach to further equal opportunity in America. In short, Blue Ridge’s goal is to support the most disruptive social innovations that advance our country’s most signature ideal. Support for start-ups (nonprofit or for profit) includes up to $500,000 in seed funding over an organization’s first years; free space in Blue Ridge’s office; hands-on management assistance; and, access to a broad network of social sector leaders. To date, Blue Ridge has provided $10 million to nearly 20 start-ups, which have subsequently raised in excess of $110 million during their time in Blue Ridge’s portfolio and positively impacted tens of thousands of lives.